Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

"You know your car is dirty when it becomes Meals-On-Wheels for the wildlife."

I think you should leave all the bugs in place as a souvenier and never wash it again. Imagine what a barn find the yellow Z will be 30-40 years from now! Now I am going to go wash my Z--it got rained on yesterday....Bob

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Free Grooming !!!! And such a tasty statewide/ Nationwide variety of bugs on the menu ;)

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

On the way out of the Badlands National Park, we visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. The purpose of the Site is to protect and explain the history and operation of the land-based ICBM leg of the strategic weapons triad that was on alert for over 40 years during the Cold War.

The Historic Site includes one empty Minuteman II silo and a missile launch control center. Visitors can get a tour of the above-ground portion of the silo and the interior of the launch control center. Here we are at the Site Welcome Center:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0993.jpg

After we left the Rapid City area, we drove east on I-90. We stopped in Mitchell, SD to see the World's only Corn Palace:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0124.jpg

In 1892, shortly after Mitchell was founded, some local businessmen decided to hold an Exposition to show potential settlers what crops could ge grown on the plains in the area. They built a building and decorated the outside with corn cobs and other crops. Today, 120 years later, the Corn Expostion continues. The 2012 celebration is this weekend. If we had been able to stay a few days, we could have seen the Charlie Daniels Band. The Corn Palace is a large civic center with a basketball court, a stage and convention center facilities. The decorations are changed every year by volunteers. Is was a remarkable building and event:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0134.jpg

We continued east to Iowa, the birthplace of the famous ZR-1 Driver, Jim Voter:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0204-1.jpg

Jim

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

On Tuesday, we continued east across Iowa. The landscape of Iowa reminds me of the farm country where we live in rural Maryland. They grow a lot of corn in Iowa:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0013-2.jpg

Did I mention that they grow a lot of corn?
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0048.jpg

We took a short side trip to see some farms and visit Elk Horn, IA and a complete operating windmill brought here from the Netherlands. The windmill is actually used to grind grain. We were too early to see it in operation, but we took some photos:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0170-1.jpg

Here is the modern way they harness the wind in Iowa (check out the artsy shot):
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0125-1.jpg

We stopped in Cedar Rapids to visit the newly restored and rebuilt National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Cedar Rapids suffered a devestating flood in 2008 that put ten square miles of the city under water. The city has recovered well and the Museum is displaying one of the finest collections of the works of the Art Neuveau artist, Alphonse Mucha. Mucha is one of our favorite artists:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0300.jpg

After a few more side trips, we drove through Illinois and stopped in Indiana for the night.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will complete our journey and return to Westminster, Maryland. On Thursday, I will be at Corvettes at Carlisle. I look forward to meeting a lot of ZR-1 owners there.

Jim

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

If you get near Cleveland around lunch time and get hungry give me a call.

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Thanks for the invitation Robert. We will be eastbound on I-70, so I will have to catch you on another trip.

Jim

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Not a problem, I will see you in Carlisle.

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

This has been incredible.
Can you go on another trip soon?

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

One hell of a great adventure there - you both did a great job with all the pic's and info.

Have a safe last leg and fun @ Corvettes at Carlisle

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Jim -- All I can say, after looking at every single post and pic, is "WOW". What a special and magical adventure you have shared with all of us in The Brotherhood. These ZR-1s are clearly meant to be "driven and enjoyed"...and your trip is the embodiment of that phrase.

I will be rolling into the Carlisle Fairground on early Thursday (tomorrow), and into the ZR-1 Net Registry area. I can't wait to personally thank you for all the work you did to allow us to share in your incredible journey. It is clear that this was a "labor of love"...and a dream-fulfilled.

Awesome...just awesome...!!!

Thanks again, Rick Moore